GAME OF THE WEEK – Los Angeles Chargers (8-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3-1), PIT by 3.5 – Huge game here for the playoff picture. While both of these teams will almost definitely be playing in January, Pittsburgh needs a win if it’s going to stay in the race for a first-round bye. Meanwhile, the Chargers are just a game back in their division and still have a chance to take over first place from Kansas City. Big stakes in this matchup of 2004 QB picks. I’m going with the red-hot Philip Rivers. UPSET! – Chargers 24, Steelers 23

THURSDAY NIGHT – New Orleans Saints (10-1) at Dallas Cowboys (6-5), NO by 7 – Just when the Cowboys get a break by playing the Colt McCoy Redskins on short week, they have to come back and play the best team in the league for their second Thursday game in a row. Not a great matchup here for Dallas. Saints 33, Cowboys 20

Indianapolis Colts (6-5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8), IND by 4 – The Colts have had a hell of a comeback from an awful start this year, while the Jaguars have just completely tanked after a nice start that included a win against New England that they made look easy. I’m taking the team with all the momentum as the Colts continue pushing toward the postseason. Colts 23, Jaguars 13

Carolina Panthers (6-5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7), CAR by 3.5 – A couple big losses in a row for Carolina, and suddenly their postseason berth is no longer a sure thing. The Bucs will put up a big fight in this divisional matchup, but it’s a game the Panthers have to have. They should have beaten Seattle last week. They’ll finish the job this week. Panthers 20, Bucs 17

Baltimore Ravens (6-5) at Atlanta Falcons (4-7), BAL by 1.5 – It just makes no sense that the Falcons are as bad as they are this year. The Ravens need this game if they’re going to keep pace in a wild card race that is quickly heating up. But this just feels like a game the Falcons will play spoiler in. UPSET! – Falcons 27, Ravens 20

Cleveland Browns (4-6-1) at Houston Texans (8-3), HOU by 6 – The Texans are the first team in NFL history to win eight straight after starting 0-3. They’re as hot as anyone in the league right now. But the Browns are playing with a lot of moxie, and they’re definitely no longer a push over. I think this is going to be hard-fought contest, and the Texans will escape with a win. Texans 23, Browns 20

Chicago Bears (8-3) at New York Giants (3-8), CHI by 4.5 – At this point, it’s smooth sailing to a divisional championship for the Bears, who have to be the surprise of the year this season. Bears 24, Giants 16

Denver Broncos (5-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-6), DEN by 4 – The Bengals are in a free fall and just lost their starting quarterback for the season. Meanwhile, the Broncos are showing some life, taking down two contenders in a row after a rough start to the season. Don’t count the Broncos out of the wild card race yet—the AFC West may very well send three teams to the tournament this year. Broncos 23, Bengals 17

New York Jets (3-8) at Tennessee Titans (5-6), TEN by 9.5 – A good start to the season for the Titans is now a distant memory, but they’re certainly not out of it yet in the AFC. The Jets are probably looking at a coaching change this offseason after yet another rough season. Don’t see them playing spoiler here. Titans 21, Jets 10

Minnesota Vikings (6-4-1) at New England Patriots (8-3), NE by 6 – The Vikings have one of the most talented teams in the league yet underachieve week in and week out. A team this good shouldn’t be this exhausting to watch. Patriots 34, Vikings 20

San Francisco 49ers (2-9) at Seattle Seahawks (6-5), SEA by 10 – The Seahawks need a few games against cupcakes after a tough stretch of games. They’ve now got the inside track on a wild card spot in the NFC. Seahawks 33, 49ers 13

Washington (6-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-6), PHI by 6.5 – It’s been a tough year for Philly, but they’re not out of it yet. A win here and a loss for Carolina puts them one step closer to being right back in it in the NFC. With Alex Smith done for the year, Washington doesn’t have much hope left. Eagles 24, Washington 17

GAME OF THE WEEK – Los Angeles Chargers (8-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3-1), PIT by 3.5 – We're all about to find out just how good the surging Chargers really are. With games in Pittsburgh and Kansas City over the next three weeks, by the time we're all done with Christmas shopping it will be clear whether one team or two in Los Angeles is a serious threat in January this year. Pittsburgh has been struggling lately and making critical mistakes that aren't typical of how the Steelers play at their best. Give me the Chargers in this one to keep things very interesting in the AFC West. UPSET!! LA Chargers 21, Pittsburgh Steelers 20

THURSDAY NIGHT – New Orleans Saints (10-1) at Dallas Cowboys (6-5), NO by 7 – Dallas is definitely playing better in recent weeks, the offense is more balanced with Amari Cooper in tow, freeing up the box for Zeke Elliott to once again be the driving force of the attack. The Cowboys are also showcasing a defense with more playmakers than originally thought, especially when they get to play from in front. Unfortunately, I don't see how Dallas can play from in front on this one and the Saints should take care of business on the road in something that isn't even a short week. NO Saints 30, Dallas Cowboys 22

Indianapolis Colts (6-5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8), IND by 4 – The Jaguars are turning to Cody Kessler to lead them out of this hole Blake Bortles has dug them in. Here's the long and short of it, Kessler won't turn the ball over nearly as much as Bortles, but Cody Checkdown also won't move the ball much at all either. Colts continue to play well behind Andrew Luck. Indy Colts 24, Jacksonville Jaguars 17

Carolina Panthers (6-5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7), CAR by 3.5 – Carolina has really struggled the past few weeks, but Tampa is an opponent that the Panthers can definitely beat. Look for Carolina to feast on some Jameis turnovers to pull off the road division victory. Carolina Panthers 34, TB Buccaneers 31

Baltimore Ravens (6-5) at Atlanta Falcons (4-7), BAL by 1.5 – The Falcons have the fire power on offense to make a running QB oriented offense have a hard time keeping up, but Atlanta's defense is bad enough to surrender huge gains to Lamar Jackson, also Baltimore's defense has played well enough that I think they'll hold the Falcons in check. Baltimore Ravens 34, Atlanta Falcons 28

Cleveland Browns (4-6-1) at Houston Texans (8-3), HOU by 6 – The Cleveland Browns look like an entirely different team right now than the one that started this season or spent the past two years being coached by Hue Jackson. Gregg Williams is pushing all the right motivational buttons, Freddie Kitchens is organizing a game plan that puts the Browns best players in position to succeed and Baker Mayfield is showing the best of what he can offer now that he isn't hamstrung by a head coach and offensive coordinator more interested in sabotaging each other and grabbing credit than trying to develop a rookie QB. This Texans game is the most difficult one left on the schedule, but I'm going with the upset, in large part because I don't see a lot of upsets on the docket this week. UPSET!! Cleveland Browns 27, Houston Texans 17

Chicago Bears (8-3) at New York Giants (3-8), CHI by 4.5 – There's a series of really bad matchups on the schedule this week and this is one of them. Even if Mitch Trubisky doesn't play, the Giants are a team in self-destruct mode that has gone completely in the tank. Chicago Bears 27, NY Giants 19

Denver Broncos (5-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-6), DEN by 4 – Cincy's defense is offering no resistance and now without Andy Dalton that offense is about to be a total mess. Denver isn't great, but the Broncos get back to .500 which puts them in the thick of the race for the sixth seed. Denver Broncos 28, Cincy Bengals 24

Arizona Cardinals (2-9) at Green Bay Packers (4-6-1), GB by 14 – As improbable as it sounds the Packers could find themselves back in the playoff hunt by Christmas time. They have an incredibly soft schedule over the last third of the schedule with only a trip to Chicago as a real road block. That path has to start with one win and they get it here. GB Packers 24, Arizona Cardinals 14

San Francisco 49ers (2-9) at Seattle Seahawks (6-5), SEA by 10 – Seattle somehow figures out how to win more often than not year after year. I still doubt their viability in January for success, but right now they'll feast on the bones of the Niners. Seattle Seahawks 27, SF Niners 21

Washington (6-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-6), PHI by 6.5 – The Eagles could find their team tied for first in the NFC East with Washington and Dallas if they win and the Cowboys lose to the Saints. This division is still very much up for grabs and it won't take better than a 9-7 record to get to the playoffs out of this pathetic division. Philly Eagles 28, Washington 13

I'm telling ya'll... don't sleep on Dallas. That defense is LEGIT, the best and most consistent unit in football this season. Dak sucks but he's got Eli potential and when you play big boy football with Zeke, that can get you places.

I'm not saying they will go to the Super Bowl or anything, but the Rams and the Saints do not want to see them in the postseason.

Messiah wrote:I'm telling ya'll... don't sleep on Dallas. That defense is LEGIT, the best and most consistent unit in football this season. Dak sucks but he's got Eli potential and when you play big boy football with Zeke, that can get you places.

I'm not saying they will go to the Super Bowl or anything, but the Rams and the Saints do not want to see them in the postseason.

I don't know, I'm still not sold. I'm not even sure they still win the division. They need to beat Philly next week (that game is actually more important to them than this week). Besides that, I feel like Payton and Brees will have a better plan to attack Dallas next time around and let's also not forget that New Orleans shut the Cowboys down in the second half. And the Rams probably have a better defense than all three.

I would still likely rank the Cowboys fourth or fifth out of the six teams that will make the postseason in terms of being a threat.